Laventille gang leader shot dead in Diego Martin

THE wild west killings continued in Diego Martin yesterday with the daring killing of a 24-year-old gang leader of East Dry River, Laventille, in broad daylight. The shooting rocked the quiet Diego Martin neighbourhood as men were seen fleeing on foot after the sound of gunfire. According to reports, Brent Bayne was shot three times in the head while driving his Honda Accord car along Superville Quarry Road, off St Lucien Road, Diego Martin, yesterday afternoon. The killing took place in the vicinity of Woodsbury Park.

His murder is the 151st for the year so far. Bayne, described as a major gang leader from east Port-of-Spain, was last seen alive around 2.15 pm, driving his car with three other occupants of the vehicle. On reaching near Woodsbury Park, three shots were heard and three men were seen fleeing the silver Accord car, registration number PBE 5319. A check was carried out and the body of Bayne was discovered slumped in the driver’s seat with three bullets to the head. Officers of the West End Police Station led by Senior Supt Roderick Roach were alerted as well as District Medical Officer Dr Chai Hong.

The body was viewed and ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. When Newsday visited the murder scene yesterday, shocked residents of the quiet Diego Martin community expressed shock and horror at the shooting death. Ironically, Bayne was shot dead in the vicinity of a neighbourhood Watch Group sign. He was clad in a three-quarter jeans and a black netted jersey when  he was killed. A search was carried out for the suspects but to no avail. One resident said that she was jolted out of her rest by the sound of three loud sounds and peeped through her window to discover that a man had been shot dead in his car.

Police investigators told Newsday that Bayne controlled the Quarry Street gang, and was responsible for distributing guns to several teenagers in Laventille. He was wanted for the shooting death of a soldier and was a suspect in several shootings. Officers of the Besson Street Police Station told Newsday yesterday that Bayne controlled several drug turfs and was a menace to society. Police investigators believe Bayne went to Diego Martin to purchase guns when he was killed. Cpl Rivas of the Four Roads Police Station is investigating.